Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 282: How to romance your crush
Yu Xi felt more at ease after eating together in the morning. Jian Ci had slipped back into his old self. He was smiling, teasing and carrying that familiar warmth that always seemed to fill the room in his heart. It was as though what happened before he woke up never happened at all.
Yet buried deep a quiet unease lingered, a whisper that something was still wrong. That thought resurfaced when Yu Xi returned to the condo. Xiaobao had asked him to bring something over thus he left Jian Ci alone. He had even brought dinner with him, hoping to share a quiet meal with Jian Ci. But the place was empty when he stepped inside.
On the dining table sat a box, a bouquet of flowers, and a folded note.
Yu Xi’s chest tightened as he reached for the note. It was handwritten which was a rarity in this world. Jian Ci’s handwriting was bold and stern unlike his usually simple and unserious nature.
The words were:
I will be gone for a while. I will see you when I come back. I hope you like the flowers and gift. I hand picked them myself.
Yu Xi’s gaze shifted to the bouquet. His breath caught. The bouquet was designed to calm Espers. It was breathtaking fusion of rare, aura-sensitive blooms. At its heart are Moonveil lilies, their petals shimmering with a soft silver glow that resonates with psychic energy, easing turbulent minds.
Surrounding them are Starbloom orchids, deep indigo with flecks of gold that seem to pulse gently, like constellations captured inSurrounding them are Starbloom orchids, deep indigo with flecks of gold that seem to pulse gently, like constellations captured in
living form. Interwoven strands of Lumerian mist-flowers release a subtle fragrance said to harmonize neural rhythms, quieting the storm of psychic surges.
The arrangement was stunning with each blossom not only dazzling in color and form but also radiating a tranquil aura that soothed the senses. It was both ethereal and grounding and Yu Xi could see the heart put into selecting it. Jian Ci had put so much thought into it that Yu Xi wasn’t mad at all that he had just left without telling him in advance.
Jian Ci had clearly put so much thought into selecting them, so much heart into the gift, that Yu Xi couldn’t bring himself to be angry. Even though Jian Ci had left without telling him in advance, Yu Xi felt only a quiet ache, softened by the beauty before him.
He traced the bold strokes of Jian Ci’s handwriting once more, his lips pressing into a faint smile. "You idiot," he whispered, voice trembling "You really do know how to make others fall in love with you."
He lifted the lid of the box, his breath catching when he saw what lay inside. A brand-new communicator gleamed up at him, sleek and elegant.
For years, he had worn the same one, the one Jian Ci had given him when they first met. It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford a new device. He simply hadn’t wanted to replace something so sentimental. But now, Jian Ci had gone and chosen one for him.
The communicator was a masterpiece. A black watch crafted from polished obsidian alloy, its minimalist dial marked with fine silver lines. Discreet rare gems were set along the bezel, catching the light with subtle brilliance.
On the case back, his initials were engraved in elegant script. It was simple yet refined, exuding sophistication without being ostentatious.
Yu Xi’s fingers brushed the card tucked at the bottom of the box. The handwriting was just as bold and stern as the one on the note.
PS. I brought a new one. You have been using the same one for years, so I thought you would like a change.
Yu Xi smiled faintly, rubbing the card with his thumb. A warmth spread through his chest, a longing he couldn’t suppress. He wished Jian Ci were here right now, so he could thank him in person.
He picked up the communicator, admiring the craftsmanship, the weight of it in his hand. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tried to call Jian Ci. The line rang once, then returned an error: Contact unavailable.
Yu Xi’s brow arched, unease prickling at the edges of his thoughts. Where was Jian Ci?
His hand hovered over the pendant that linked them, tempted to track him. But after a moment’s hesitation he let it go.
***
The stealth craft touched down with barely a whisper, its hull vanishing into the shadows of Kharon’s Hollow. Jian Ci stepped out, his boots sinking into the blackened soil that reeked of ash and iron. The air was thick, metallic, every breath scraping the lungs like rust.
This was the edge of the Orion Drift, the place whispered about in hushed tones, where Virellia’s worst criminals were sent to vanish, swallowed by the mines and the endless desolation.
The planet was no prison of walls, but of inevitability. Escape was a myth; the elements themselves were executioners. There were no settlements and no ships, only the depot and the shafts that consumed lives one strike of the pickaxe at a time. Kharon’s Hollow was not redemption. It was annihilation, slow and merciless.
Jian Ci pulled his hood lower, rain dripping down the fabric, disguising his face. Alone, he walked across the docking platform, his steps deliberate, his aura cold enough to make the air itself shiver.
He bypassed the main transport gates, the ones meant for shipments of ore and lines of shackled prisoners, and approached a smaller, fortified entrance tucked into the depot’s flank.
He tapped the panel. A peep window slid open, revealing wary eyes. Jian Ci lifted his token, the insignia gleaming faintly in the dim light. The door opened at once, no questions asked.
Inside, the soldier stiffened, bowing his head slightly. "This way, sir." His voice was polite, but beneath it trembled with fear. That token was enough to shake the heavens, a symbol of authority so absolute that even hardened men quailed before it.
The soldier led him down a narrow hall, the walls humming faintly with the depot’s power conduits. Jian Ci’s presence was suffocating, his silence heavier than words. They reached the elevator, its doors massive and reinforced, designed to withstand riots and explosions.
Along the way, soldiers passed them, heading to their posts. Each one slowed, their eyes flicking toward Jian Ci, their movements faltering as though the air itself had thickened.
But none dared speak. His aura pressed down on them, cold and commanding, a reminder that this was no ordinary visitor.
